Zee News : Pak-India to share info on intelligence through Interpol

Pak-India to share info on intelligence through Interpol

September 23, 2006

Islamabad, Sept 23: Pakistan on Saturday said it would share information on intelligence with India through Interpol as per the joint anti-terror mechanism agreed upon by the two countries and "willfully" cooperate if any red corner notices were issued through the world police body.

"We share information with India about any most wanted person through Interpol and if New Delhi has issued red warrants of any criminal, Pakistan will fully cooperate," Pakistan`s Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao told the Geo TV here.

The joint statement issued after the meeting in Havana between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf said the two leaders "decided to put in place an India-Pakistan anti-terrorism institutional mechanism to identify and implement counter-terrorism initiatives and investigations".

Officials on both sides are working out modalities to operationalise it, he said.

Sherpao said Pakistan and Britain have agreed on the formation of a joint working group to strengthen intelligence sharing between the two countries.

He said officials from the interior ministries of the two countries would cooperate with each other to improve anti-terrorism capabilities and to stop human trafficking and smuggling.

The new joint working group under intelligence sharing forum is similar to that of joint working group of the US intelligence monitoring with Britain, he said.

Sherpao said British experts would impart training of sensitive intelligence equipment to Pakistani officials.

He said the proposed agreement has been sent to the Cabinet for approval after which officials from both countries would sign the deal.

When asked what proof the British intelligence agencies have gathered regarding the alleged conspiracy to hijack US-bound planes from UK, Sherpao said "important evidence have been found" without elaborating.

He said investigation is being conducted in Pakistan against Rashid Rauf, a Pakistan-origin Briton, arrested in Pakistan in connection with the conspiracy.

It would take some time to complete legal requirements to hand over of Rauf, who has dual citizenships, to British officials, he said.

Responding to a question regarding the Waziristan agreement, he said the situation in the northern region bordering Afghanistan has become normal after the signing of the peace deal with the tribal elders.

Bureau Report